Portable race track



B. L MOBLEY' PORTABLE RACE TRACK May 22, 1945.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1945 Zradza? zuwbzly' v May 22, 1945.

PORTABLE RACE TRACK Filed Dec. 6, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet.4

Inventor gum L. MOBLEY 2,376,444

Patented May 22, 1945 N T D. 1 TATES FATE iQFFIICE v PORTABLE taclr eroic f Broadus L. Mobley, Germantowmmenn; Application December 6, 1943, Serial No.513 ,I 68

.;@2Claims. The present invention relates to new anduseful improvements in race tracks for captive, selfpropelledmodel vehicles "such, for example, as automobiles, motorcycles and power boats, and has forits primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of this character which isadapted to be expeditiously knocked down, transported to another location and again assembled or erected for operation. Another very importantobject of the invention is top'rovide aportable race track of the aforementioned character comprising a novel construction and arrangement whereby two or more of the model vehicles may race in competition with eachother rather than againsttime.

Stillanother very important objectof the invention isto provide'a @portable model race track of the character set forth wherein, if desired, various types or kinds of vehicles may race in competition with each other.

Other objects of the invention are. to provide a portable model race track which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable. highly efficient and reliable in operation, compact, light in weight and which may be manufac-' tured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portable model race track constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through a portion of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section through the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a detail view in vertical longitudinal section through the joint between two of the track sections.

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section through the center post or shaft.

js ti uc'tion between the track sections,showing protectingplate separatedfj if p ff f Y Figure is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing a slightly modified form, oithe'iii vention.' f

Referring now to the drawings in' detail, jit will be seen that reference character, I clesigriatesa metallic base. Mounted on the base lisfa ver tical shaft 2. 'Mountedforliorizontal swinging 10 HIE movement" on the shaft. 2 at verticallyspaced points are a plurality of sectional skeleton arms 3 of suitable metal.

perend portion of the shaft 2.

Encircling the center shaft 6 in spaced, concentric relation thereto is a plurality of metallic posts 1. Metallic brackets 8 are detachably bolted to the posts I at vertically spaced points and project inwardly therefrom. Tubular radial rods 9 connect certain of the lowermost brackets 8 As illustrated toadvantage in Figure 8 of the drawings, the brackets 8 comprlse raised, comparatively high and low outer Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through one Figure 9 is a perspective view of the joint conand inner end portions Ill and ll, respectively, with an arcuate intermediate portion l2 therebetween. The brackets 8 further include apertured flanges l3 to facilitate securing said brackets to the posts 1, the mounting of the track sections thereon, et cetera.

In the arrangement illustrated, banked circular tracks l4 aremounted on the lower and inter mediate brackets 8, and a circular trough l5 of metal 'or other suitable material is mounted on the upper brackets 8. The tracks I4 include sections "5 of plywood, composition board. or other suitable material which are secured upon the purtions Land ll of the brackets 8 by bolts H which pass through the openings in the end portions l0 and H. drawings, the upper surfaces of the end portions of the track sections iii are beveled to accommodate protective plates or bars l8 which prevent splintering or splitting of said end portions of said track sections. The bolts ll also secure the members la in position.

Self-propelled model vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles l9 and 20, respectively, are operable on the banked tracks I4. The model vehicles I9 and 20 are hingeclly mounted for vertical swinging movement only on the outer or free ends of the respective arms 3. The trough I5 is for the reception of water, as at 2|, for floating At their inner ends the arms 3 are provided with anti-friction bearings As best seen in Figure 4 of the v ratus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the self-propelled vehicles travel their respective circular courses to which they are confined by the arms 3 and the center shaft 2. As the vehicles are mounted on vertically spaced supports, one for each vehicle,

said vehicles, racing in competition, are free to pass and repass each other at all times. The tracks I4 may be mounted on all of thebrackets 8 and all of the competing vehicles may be model automobiles l9 or the model motorcycles 20. Or, if desired, the troughs l5 may be mounted on all of the brackets 8 in order that all of the competing vehicles may be the model power boats 22. Still further, the competing vehicles may be electrically driven and current may be supplied thereto in any suitable manner. In the slight modification shown'in Figure 10 of the drawings, braces 24 extend between the brackets 8 beneath the end portions of the track sections l6 and the intermediate portions of said sections.

It is believed that the many advantages of a portable race track constructed in accordance with the presentinvention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arfall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A race track of the characterdescribed comprising a base, a vertical shaft rising from the base, posts disposed vertically in a path encircling the shaft in spaced, concentric relation thereto, brackets mounted at vertically spaced points on the posts and projecting inwardly therefrom, each bracket having upstanding end portions provided with heads at their upper ends, circular tracks resting on the upstanding end portions of the brackets and secured to the heads thereof, arms journaled at vertically spaced points on the shaft for horizontal swinging movement about said shaft independent of and relative to each other, a sleeve about said "shaft holding the arms in vertical spaced rela- ,.tion to .each other, and model vehicles on the downwardly bowed edge between the said end portions defining a recess, a circular trough for the reception of water seated in the recesses of said brackets with its side edges supported upon the said end portions of the brackets'an arm journaled on the shaft for swinging movement in a horizontal plane about the shaft and being of a length to dispose its free outer end over the brackets, and a model water craft mounted on the free end of said arm and operable in the water in the trough.

BROADUS ll. MOBLEY. 

